A Fortutious Omen

Kipling called it “a golden mystery…a beautiful winking wonder”. He was describing Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon). It’s the most sacred site for Buddhists in the whole country. The Stuppa glitters bright gold in the afternoon sun and on very rare occasions a natural phenomenon takes place. A brightly lit circular rainbow appears above the Stuppa. Said to be a prophecy for good fortune, those who see it fall to the floor in prayer. Yesterday, this holiest of rainbows appeared in the heavens for a few short minutes. A fortunate few got to see it, I was not one of them. Consumed with work, I was too mesmerized with the hundreds of Buddists down on both knees in solemn reverence. How was I to know it was a rainbow that had them chanting and humming louder than usual? As bells and chimes rang out, meditation choirs repeated strange verse in strict repetition. Where am I? I’ve been on hallowed ground before but not like this. A feeling of calm and bliss cascaded over the place. Rico, my Brazilian crush, captured several still shots of the rainbow – photos that could make him a God Sent with National Geographic Magazine. That does it for me – no more burying my head in a black and white viewfinder! Budda is telling me to stop and smell the incense and enjoy this strange land for the next few days and so I shall.

Sonja Stark

2 Responses

Sony, again, all our senses come to life with your blogs, I do believe you write wonderfully and yes stop and smell the incense, your eyes have a wider lense. I am sorry you missed the rainbow but you captured something he didn’t, we look forward to Ricos and your blog and pictures. Enjoy your last day, Clara

a fall day and we turned the clocks back here in New England. You’re far away Sony, but with your wonderfully descriptive blog you are right there to share. Yeah take the eye out of the viewfinder and drink it all in!

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